Short note for the mining students in the Philippines
By Kuya Edel

Today I remember an encounter with a mining engineering student from the University of the Philippines (UP) during a national conference on climate change and mining in the Philippines. The student went to approach the microphone and ask the advocacy groups in the room, “It seems like you are campaigning to stop mining in the Philippines, I am a mining engineering student, how about my future if mining will be stopped in the country?”

Because of time constraint, the facilitator only accepted one response to the question. I was not able to raise my points in the group so I just approached the student during the break and advised him to throw the same question to his professors and the industry itself. Here is another short note for them:

To the mining students in the Philippines,

I suggest that through your organizations or alliances to make an appeal to the mining industry that is supposed to take care of your careers in the future. Remind the mining industry that we all want to work in an industry that honors human rights and does not violate them, gives respect to economic policies and does not take advantage of the weak regulations, and work with the people and does not disregard their dignity.

I believe that you have the right to demand to the industry to clean the pathways for you; this means addressing the issues being tagged to their operations.

Rationalizing the mining industry in the country may also begin in reinstituting values to the new breed of mining experts and workers. It comes in knowing that although the industry plays a vital role in modern society, our responsibility remains – to be the steward of our environment and resources.

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